2024-25 NFL Thread

[MU Fan in Connecticut]

I don't think those markets are sustainable for full time teams.

I know Germany has the Sunday evening (7:00pm) game of the week.  My co-workers tell me it's popular. 

FWIW, Boomer Esiason has discussed a few times and is certain the NFL would like a Euro division and believes it will happen.  They will fill up that 9:00/10:00am tv time slot every week.

I had a coworker who's son worked in London.  His son said every American in Greater London heads to the London games.

[Pakuni]

I know Germany has the Sunday evening (7:00pm) game of the week.  My co-workers tell me it's popular. 

FWIW, Boomer Esiason has discussed a few times and is certain the NFL would like a Euro division and believes it will happen.  They will fill up that 9:00/10:00am tv time slot every week.

I had a coworker who's son worked in London.  His son said every American in Greater London heads to the London games.

I wouldn't be surprised if the league wants it, but it has the potential to be a disaster. I imagine the European teams would face the same issues the small-market Canadian teams in the NHL face, in that a lot of the star players - especially star American players - don't want to be there. Except in the NFL, all of the star players are Americans. 

[The Sultan]

Correct. Not only that, but attending a one-off game a couple times a year is way different than supporting a team 8-10 times a season. And is Bayern going to give up their stadium to get their turf torn up regularly? Is there enough corporate support like there is here for NFL games?

The EPL does well on American television. That doesn't mean they should put a team here.

[Uncle Rico]

Correct. Not only that, but attending a one-off game a couple times a year is way different than supporting a team 8-10 times a season. And is Bayern going to give up their stadium to get their turf torn up regularly? Is there enough corporate support like there is here for NFL games?

The EPL does well on American television. That doesn't mean they should put a team here.

Let's see the excitement towards American football the next few years in Europe, aina?

[JWags85]

I don't think those markets are sustainable for full time teams.

I think London can be.  Only an hour longer for an NYC to London flight than flying to the West Coast.  Time change is slightly greater, but we've seen the time slots work.  No language barrier, culturally its not prohibitively different.  They are gonna be living and working in London, not Leeds or Stoke.

I had a coworker who's son worked in London.  His son said every American in Greater London heads to the London games.

I can't speak to the actual game attendance, but Ive watched NFL games on a Sunday in London a couple times, all different venues in different neighborhoods, and its been packed and staff said its always capacity.  And its not just a bunch of American expats, there are tons of assorted Brits.  Fan support wouldn't be an issue at all.

[Billy Hoyle]

I wouldn't be surprised if the league wants it, but it has the potential to be a disaster. I imagine the European teams would face the same issues the small-market Canadian teams in the NHL face, in that a lot of the star players - especially star American players - don't want to be there. Except in the NFL, all of the star players are Americans. 

Like the Canadian teams, European teams will face a barrier to free agents with a significantly higher tax rate and cost of living. Unlike some of the foreign basketball leagues, American players in the NFL cannot be paid in cash under the table due. Can some sort of agreement be made to change how US players are taxed in London or Germany? Also, families might be a barrier - will the rest of the family want to relocate abroad? In a salary capped league, a team is going to be limited to how much extra they can offer a player to offset the tax bill like they teams in higher tax states can in MLB.

[Pakuni]

I think London can be.  Only an hour longer for an NYC to London flight than flying to the West Coast.  Time change is slightly greater, but we've seen the time slots work.  No language barrier, culturally its not prohibitively different.  They are gonna be living and working in London, not Leeds or Stoke.

Sure, but what about when it's the London team's turn to play the NFC West?
London to LA = 11+ hours
London to San Francisco = 11+ hours
London to Seattle = 10 hours
London to Phoenix = 11 hours

Then there's taxes, which for guys pulling NFL salaries, is going to be  higher there than anywhere in the U.S. Then there's the hassle of living in two countries at once, as I imagine most players won't make England their full-time home.
Why would a player or coach subject himself to this is he has options to play for a U.S.-based team?
A London team would be stuck with a roster of players either tied to them through the CBA/draft, who don't have options elsewhere or who they have to significantly overpay. And in a capped league, you can only overpay so much.

[Pakuni]

RIP Virginia McCaskey

[Dish]

Things are going to get incredibly interesting for the Bears...

[Hards Alumni]

What happens in 4 years when TBSS?

[Jockey]

RIP Virginia McCaskey

I hope nobody swears at the funeral.

[Uncle Rico]

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-shuts-down-tommy-tuberville-recruiting-comments

[WhiteTrash]

Things are going to get incredibly interesting for the Bears...

For sure. Just not anytime soon. The NFL gave the Broncos a lot of runway to figure their stuff out, resulting in a sale of course.

[Pakuni]

For sure. Just not anytime soon. The NFL gave the Broncos a lot of runway to figure their stuff out, resulting in a sale of course.

I would imagine that if the McCaskeys want controlling ownership kept in the family, they've long ago taken steps to ensure that with Virginia's passing. Obviously the death of a 102-year-old doesn't come as a surprise.
This may end up being a lot more like a Lamar Hunt/Art Rooney/Al Davis situation than that of Pat Bowlen, where there was substantial familial disagreement over ownership and control of the team that forced the sale.

[RJax55]

I would imagine that if the McCaskeys want controlling ownership kept in the family, they've long ago taken steps to ensure that with Virginia's passing. Obviously the death of a 102-year-old doesn't come as a surprise.
This may end up being a lot more like a Lamar Hunt/Art Rooney/Al Davis situation than that of Pat Bowlen, where there was substantial familial disagreement over ownership and control of the team that forced the sale.

You would imagine. But, we are talking about the McCaskeys here. Will George be able to execute said plan?

[WhiteTrash]

I would imagine that if the McCaskeys want controlling ownership kept in the family, they've long ago taken steps to ensure that with Virginia's passing. Obviously the death of a 102-year-old doesn't come as a surprise.
This may end up being a lot more like a Lamar Hunt/Art Rooney/Al Davis situation than that of Pat Bowlen, where there was substantial familial disagreement over ownership and control of the team that forced the sale.

That does make sense. I read that her ownership will get split between so many family members that the Bears will be out of compliance with the 30% single stake requirement that will make it a challenge for one family member to consolidate. I don't know what will happen but I'd put my money on a sale in the future.

[GB Warrior]

Congratulations on your loss, Bears fans

[Jockey]

https://athlonsports.com/nfl/kansas-city-chiefs/chiefs-patrick-mahomes-shuts-down-tommy-tuberville-recruiting-comments

Shocking. I thought he was just stone cold stupid. Guess we can add stone cold liar to the resume.

[JWags85]

Shocking. I thought he was just stone cold stupid. Guess we can add stone cold liar to the resume.

He's a college football coach.  Lying is part of the skill set.

[Hards Alumni]

He's a college football coach.  Lying is part of the skill set.

Well, he's also a politician.  And they, famously, never lie.

[Pakuni]

He's a college football coach.  Lying is part of the skill set.

Much better at the lying part than the coaching part.

[Jockey]

I think London can be.  Only an hour longer for an NYC to London flight than flying to the West Coast.  Time change is slightly greater, but we've seen the time slots work.  No language barrier, culturally its not prohibitively different.  They are gonna be living and working in London, not Leeds or Stoke.

I can't speak to the actual game attendance, but Ive watched NFL games on a Sunday in London a couple times, all different venues in different neighborhoods, and its been packed and staff said its always capacity.  And its not just a bunch of American expats, there are tons of assorted Brits.  Fan support wouldn't be an issue at all.

I think Goddell is at least trying to do this right.

As opposed to Musk's, I mean, Manfred's outlook on a work stoppage. Sounds as though Manfred is actually looking to force baseball to shut down in '27. Strange that he would do this more than a year-and-a-half ahead of time.

Simply an attempt to blow up the current structure.

[GB Warrior]

Good for Sterling Sharpe. Long overdue honor.

[Not all scoop users are created equal apparently]

Congrats to Josh Allen on winning the Joel Embiid voter fatigue memorial MVP

[Jockey]

Congrats to Josh Allen on winning the Joel Embiid voter fatigue memorial MVP

Absolutely. The guy with 5 losses should always be MVP.